Youngstown State's Beau Brungard runs the football (Photo by Youngstown State Athletics)
With Ohio State and Cincinnati off this week, it was a little rough for Ohio’s FBS teams, as they went 2-4. The FCS teams, Youngstown State and Dayton both picked up good wins as Youngstown State has found a star in quarterback Beau Brungard.
Ohio State 3-0 (0-0 in the Big Ten)
The #1 Buckeyes had the week off after their win last week over Ohio. The off week comes before they travel to Seattle to try and snap the Washington Huskies’ 22-game home winning streak. Washington is red hot, having just thumped rival Washington State 59-24, and is also 3-0.
Cincinnati 2-1 (0-0 in the Big 12)
UC had a bye this week as well. They’ll head west to Lawrence, Kansas, next week to take on the Jayhawks. Kansas is 3-1 and just beat up West Virginia in a 34-10 victory.
Miami (Ohio) 0-3 (0-0 in the MAC)
The RedHawks had a rocky Saturday against the Mountain West’s UNLV. I really liked the RedHawks to win this game, and they gave it all they had. Miami would have two separate 14-point leads and be unable to maintain either of them. They would also lose starting quarterback Dequan Finn to injury during a play in which he also threw a pick-six. They would battle back and forth until UNLV took a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter that they would hold on to for the 41-38 win. Miami will stay in Oxford and at Yeager Stadium when they play Lindenwood next week, hoping to get their first win of 2025.
Ohio 2-2 (0-0 in the MAC)
Ohio got back on the winning track despite stumbling on defense against Gardner-Webb. The Bobcats beat the Bulldogs 52-35. They did behind a crushing rushing attack. Running back Sieh Bangura had 18 carries for 123 yards and three touchdowns and fellow running back Duncan Brune had 16 carries for 88 yards and three touchdowns. 318 of Ohio’s 608 yards of offense came from running the football. The Bobcats host Bowling Green next week.
Bowling Green 2-2 (0-0 in the MAC)
Bowling Green went on the road to another team on the banks of the Ohio River and the result was similar. The Falcons lost to Louisville like they did to Cincinnati. Bowling Green did alright rushing the football, but struggled in the passing game with only 131 yards through the air and throwing two interceptions. Eddie George and the Falcons return to the Buckeye State but will play Ohio down in Athens next week to open MAC play.
Toledo 2-2 (0-1 in the MAC)
The Rockets had a heartbreaking loss to Western Michigan. They didn’t surrender the lead in the game until there was less than a minute to go in the fourth quarter. The silver lining of the 14-13 defeat was that star running back Chip Trayanum had another good game with 26 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown. If they can get a steady passing game to go with him, they’ll compete for the MAC title. Next, they get a visit from Akron to the Glass Bowl.
Akron 1-3 (0-0 in the MAC)
The Zips got their much-needed first win of the season by thumping Duquesne. It had to feel good to be on the winning side of a blowout for a change. It’s a step in the right direction for Akron as they finish the non-conference schedule and get into MAC play. A 51-7 win will have them in better shape for when they take a trip to Toledo next week to take on the Rockets.
Kent State 1-3 (0-1 in the MAC)
There’s not really any positives to be had when you lose by 56 points and give up 775 yards of offense. The good news is that Kent State gets the next week off. The bad news is they follow that up with a trip to a red-hot Oklahoma team. Kent State will likely be 1-4 when they finish their non-conference schedule.
Dayton 2-1 (0-0 in the Pioneer League)
The Flyers trailed at Robert Morris, 14-7, going into the fourth quarter. But Dayton owned the final stanza in a big way. The UD defense held Robert Morris to only 34 yards on 13 plays in the fourth quarter. The offense was equally exceptional, gaining 170 yards and scoring 10 points, which was enough for the 17-14 win. Dayton flies next against Stetson at Welcome Stadium.
Youngstown State 3-1 (0-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference)
The Penguins won in a close game against Towson. Once again star quarterback Beau Brungard carried the team. Brungard was 24 of 41 for 277 yards and a touchdown passing the ball and added 18 carries for 100 yards and two touchdowns running the football. With the game tied at 28-28 late in the fourth quarter, Brungard and YSU drove down the field and got in position for the game winner for kicker Andrew Lastovka. Lastovka hit the 42-yarder at the gun to make YSU 3-1. YSU has the week off before they welcome #2 South Dakota State to Youngstown.
Writer’s Note: The FBS rankings are from The College Football Power Rankings at TheForkball.com. The FCS rankings are from the FCS STATS Poll.
